Mail-box.



PATENTED JULY 14, 1903.

F. F. HUNTER.

MAIL BOX.

APPLICATION IILED APR. 6, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented July 14, 1903.

FRANK F. HUNTER, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

MAIL-BOX.

SFECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 733,651, dated July 14, 1903. Application filed April 6, 1903. Serial No. 151,313. iNo model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, FRANK F. HUNTER,a citi: zen of the United States, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Boxes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a partof this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in mail-boxes more expressly designed for rural mail delivery; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth,-and pointed out particularly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a mail-box of simple and inexpensive construction in which the arrangement is such as to enable the box to receive all kinds of mail and at the same time prevent the surreptitious removal of the mail from the box, provision being rnade for automatically dumping the mail into the bottom of the box from the receptacle and at the same time closing the box against the removal of any of its contents through the opening in which the mail is received.

The above object is attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the mailbox embodying my invention, the lid of the box being partially raised and the door of the box being opened. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the box with the lid closed. Fig. 3 is a similar view with the lid open. is a vertical longitudinal section through the box, as on line 4 at of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view in elevation of one of the hinges etnployedto secure the lid or cover to the body of the box.

Referring to the characters of reference, 1 designates the box, which is preferably of rectangular shape and is provided with a rounding or semicylindrical top. Hinged at 2 to the top is a curved lid 3, adapted when down to close the opening therein.

Journaled at its ends upon pins 5, which Fig. 4

have bearing in the ends of the box, is the cylinder 6. Located within said cylinder is a flaring receptacle 7, whose open side extends through the wall of the cylinder 6, forming the opening 8, through which mail is deposited into said receptacle when the lid is raised to open the box. Extending downwardly from the't-op of the box on each side of the opening 4 therethrough are the curved plates 9 and 10, which embrace the exterior wall of the cylinder 6 and prevent the introduction of a y tool or other device by means of which mail may be extracted from the box. Along the rear margin of the opening 4 the metal of the top of the box is bent downwardly in the form of a depending flange 11, which extends longitudinally of the opening through the top and serves as an abutment, which strikes the projecting edge 12 of the open end of the receptacle when moved to the open position to arrest it in the proper position to receive the mail which is introduced into said receptacle. To provide for automatically actuating the receptacle upon the openingaud closing of the hinged cover, a connecting-rod 14: is employed, whose upper end is pivoted at 13 to the cover and whose lower end is pivoted at 15 to one end of the cylinder6, whereby upon the opening of the cover to the position shown in Fig. 3 the cylinder will be rotated to present the open side of the receptacle 7 to the opening in the top of the box, so that mail may be introduced therein. Upon the release of the lid or cover it willdrop to the closed position and swing the receptacle to discharge the mail therefrom into the body of the box, as shown in Fig. 2. To assist the cover in closing, the hinge 2 thereof may be provided with a coiled spring 16, as shown in Fig. 5, whose tension is exerted to carry the cover to a closed position, as will be well understood. It will be observed on referring to Fig. 2 that when the cover closes the receptacle 7 is so rotated as to present its open side downwardly, so as to discharge any mail which it may contain into the box. At the same time the cylinder 6, in which said receptacle is seated, closes the opening 4 through the top of the box to prevent the entrance of anything into the box which has not first been placed in the receptacle 7. It will also be noted on referring to Fig. 2 that in swinging downwardly the rear edge of the opening in the receptacle 7 passes close to the guardplace 9, so as to prevent the withdrawal of any of the contents of the box between the edge of the receptacle and said plate. By means of this arrangement any mail-matter deposited in the box cannot be removed except through the door 17 by one who has a key to the look (not shown) with which said door is secured; but the box is at all times free of access to those who wish to deposit mail therein. 7 It will also be observed that all mail deposited in the receptacle 7 upon the closing of the cover or lid is at once discharged therefrom into the body of the box, so that when the box is again opened there is no mail remaining in said receptacle.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a mail-box, the combination with the box, of a rotary cylinder located therein, a receptacle having but one open side located in said cylinder, an opening in the top of the box with which the open side ofthe cylinder is adapted to register, a hinged coverto close said opening, guard-plates secured to the top of the box on each side of the opening therein, said plates curving downwardly and inwardly to embrace the receptacle and cylinder, there being an opening between the] lower ends of said plates for the discharge of mail, and a connecting-rod pivoted to the cover and to said cylinder, whereby the cylinder is actuated.

2. In a mail-box, the combination with the box having a rounded top portion provided with an opening through the upper part thereof, a cylinder journaled in the top of the box below said opening and adapted to normally close it, a hinged lid fitting over said opening, a receptacle seated in said cylinder having an opening for the reception and discharge of mail, said opening being adapted to be made to register with the opening in the top of the box, when the cover is opened and to swing downwardly to discharge the mail therefrom when the cover is closed, guard-plates secured to the top of the cover and curving downwardly and inwardly so as to embrace a portion of the wall of the cylinder, one of said guard-plates being concen: trio with and contiguous to the arc of the circle described by the open side .of said receptacle in its travel, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK F. HUNTER.

Witnesses:

JAs. W. lIELME, Jr., Rosn E. HELME. 

